"Congress and the Gupkar Gang want to take J&K back to the era of terror and turmoil. They want to take away the rights of Dalits, women and tribals that we have ensured by removing Article 370. This is why they’re being rejected by the people everywhere," HM Amit Shah had written on Tuesday.
He also questioned Congress over the matter and demanded that the part clarify its stance, "Do Sonia Ji and Rahul Ji support such moves of the Gupkar Gang? They should make their stand crystal clear to the people of India".
With this, the Gupkar Declaration has once again become a subject of widespread discussion. For the uninitiated, here are 5 pointers explaining what it is about.
What Is The Gupkar Declaration?
- All-Party Meet In 2019: Gupkar Declaration is a resolution issued after an all-party meeting on August 4, 2019, at the Gupkar residence of the National Conference president Farooq Abdullah. The resolution defended the special status given to the then state of Jammu & Kashmir under Article 370.
- Parties Involved & Motive: At that point, it involved parties like National Conference, Indian National Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Communist Party of India (M), Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference and Awami National Conference. The parties unanimously resolved that they would be united in their effort "to protect and defend the identity, autonomy and special status of Jammu and Kashmir against all attacks and onslaughts".
- Abrogation Of Article 370: The declaration came a day before Centre announced its decision of abrogating Jammu and Kashmir's special status and split it into two Union territories. With this major move, prominent J&K leaders such as Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti were put under house arrest over concerns of possible provocative actions.
- Gupkar Declaration-II: A year after the abrogation of Article 370 and soon after Mufti was released from year-long detention, leaders from the six political parties once again met on August 22, 2020, and signed the Gupkar Declaration and resolved to adhere to the 2019 declaration.
- Attack & Defence: The political alliance faces attacks over accusations of them seeking support from Pakistan and willingness to even side with China to fulfil their motive. Meanwhile, the leaders involved maintain that their objective is to restore the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. "We are not a “gang” Amit Shah ji, we are a legitimate political alliance having fought & continuing to fight elections, much to your disappointment," Omar Abdullah wrote on Twitter in response to Shah's tweet.
The political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a slugfest ahead of the local polls. Jammu and Kashmir has been, is and will always remain an integral part of India. Indian people will no longer tolerate an unholy ‘global gathbandhan’ against our national interest. Either the Gupkar Gang swims along with the national mood or else the people will sink it, the Home Minister said.